Snowplows damaged in northern Arizona snow storms

PHOENIX — Two snowplows were damaged in January snow storms in northern Arizona when they were hit in separate accidents.

The first was hit on Jan. 19, when it was plowing Highway 89A and struck by an SUV. The plow and its driver continued working, but the SUV incurred serious damage.

(ADOT Photo)

The second incident came on Jan. 21, when a semi truck rear-ended a snowplow and sent it on its side on Interstate 40. Two employees from the Arizona Department of Transportation were on that snowplow and taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

“During storms, drivers need to slow down and give plows plenty of space,” said Alvin Stump, a district engineer in ADOT’s Northwest District, in a statement. “Plows require a large work area to remove snow.”

ADOT reminds drivers to give plenty of space to plows and to take extra caution in snowy conditions. Gabriel Alvarado, a snowplow driver near Seligman, Ariz., said it’s common for a car to pass a plow, only to slide off the freeway shortly thereafter. He also said it’s beneficial to follow a plow — not pass one.

“It’s the best possible scenario to have a plow right in front of you,” he said in a statement.

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